Measuring device



NW 11, mm.

N. H. BOLZ 2,262,599

MEASURING DEVICE Filed Jan. 10, 1959 INVENTOR. NORMAN BOLZ ATTORN areatented Nov. 11, 1941 MEASURING DEVICE Norman H. Bolz, Euclid, Ohio,assignor to Paterson-Leitch Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application January 10, 1939, Serial No. 250,206

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for predeterminately measuringlengths to be operated upon or, alternately out off from stock pieces oflight material or heavy, cumbersome matement plate without leaving hiscustomary position at the cut-ofi machine. There is also provided anintermittent signalling means such as an electric light or bell whichindicates the unit rials such as metal beams, bars, shapes and distancestravelled by the carriage, so that the sheets, and similar types ofstock material of nonoperator's close attention to the readings uponmetallic composition such as various kinds of the measuring tape is notrequired, when the carlumber and the like. Heretofore, in the operationriage is moving at full speed over a substantial of cut-oif machines,such as power shears, saws, distance. abrasive cut-oil wheels, rotarycutters, etc., op- The invention has been and will be described eratingupon heavy stock materials of the type with respect to a cut-off machinebut it is obvious already indicated, it has been the practice to that itis applicable to a wide variety of machines run the length of stockthrough the machine and or tools and it will be understood that acut-off out onto a supporting table until its end abuts machine has beenused merely as an example. against a length gauge in the form of a blockor It is also to be understood that the invention is plate memberpreviously located the desired disnot to be restricted to a cut-offmachine. tance from the cutting point of the machine and To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and fastened in place by the operator.When a large related ends, said invention, then, consists of the numberof different lengths of such stock are to means hereinafter fullydescribed and particularbe out, such lengths varying from only a fewfeet ly pointed out in the claims. to possibly over 100 feet, asubstantial portion of The annexed drawing and the following detheoperators time and labor has been occupied scription set forth in detailcertain mechanism with the locating and fastening of the lengthembodying the invention, such disclosed means abutment plate or feedgauge. And very often constituting, however, but one of various metheuse of such a feed gauge has been dispensed chanical forms in which theprinciple of the with by the operator, due to the inconvenienceinvention may be used. and time consumed in its manipulation, the op- Insaid annexed drawingerator relying merely upon a chalk, pencil or Fig. 1is a general elevational view of a stock scribed mark measured oil uponthe length of cut-oif machine and supporting table with the stock todetermine the cut-off point. As a result, device embodying my inventionassembled therethe human element entered into the cut-oil operwith; Fig.2 is an enlarged, detail side elevational ation in the alignment of thecut-oil mark with view of the abutment plate carriage; Fig. 3 is an thecutting point of the machine, with a correend elevational view of thesame, taken upon a sponding factor of error lessening the uniformityplane normal to that of Fig. 2 and substantially and accuracy of thework. along line 3-3 as indicated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is Accordingly, thegeneral object and nature of an elevational view of the carriage takenupon the present invention is to minimize the above the side opposite tothat of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a enumerated difficulties and to provide meansfor detail view of the measuring tape supporting rollrapidly andaccurately locating a cut-off length er at the end removed from thecut-off machine; abutment member at any desired point and over Fig. 6 isa wiring diagram of the carriage drive a wide range of lengths, suchdevice being conmotor circuit; and Figure 7 is a detail view of trolledand operated by the operator of the cutpart of the measuring tape. of!machine without requiring him to leave his Referring more particularlytothe drawing and customary position at the latter. Briefly outespeciallyFig. 1 thereof, the numeral i indicates lined, the device embodying theprinciple of my generally any tool or a cut-off machine such asinvention comprises an electric power driven cara power shear adapted tooperate upon a piece riage or vehicle having an abutment plate adaptedof stock material 2 such as a steel beam or bar. to project over thestock supporting table, and The stock material 2 extends out through theattached to an endless measuring tape passing cut-off machine I onto thetop of the supporting around an indicating point located on the cut-oiltable 3, which customarily has a series of spaced machine. An electriccontrol switch for actuating rollers 4 to facilitate the movement of theheavy the drive motor of such vehicle or carriage is also stockthereover. A trackway 5 is positioned above located at the cut-offmachine, and enables the the stock supporting table 3. In theillustrative operator to easily control the movements or preembodiment,the trackway 5 consists essentially location of the carriage and itsattached abutof an I-beam supported at one end at the cut-oil machineand at the other end by the vertical upright 6 extending upwardly fromthe end of the supporting table 3.

A pgwer driven carriage or vehicle, indicated generally at 1, carries anabutment plate 2| which projects downwardly above the top of thesupporting table 3 and against which the end of the length of stockmaterial 2 is adapted to abut. An endless measuring tape 9 is connectedto the carriage 1 and passes around a supporting roller I!) mounted onthe front of the cut-off machine I. A fixed pointer I I mounted adjacentthe roller l indicates the readings upon the tape 9 and correspondingly,the distance of the carriage 1 and its abutment plate 2| from thecut-off point of the machine and operates as the means for allowing theoperator to control the movement of the carriage 1 over the trackway 5.An electric signal I3, such as an electric light or bell is also mountedon the cut-off machine and is so electrically connected as to beintermittently actuated by the movement of the carriage 1 during itstravel.

Now directing attention to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the carriage 1 comprises aframework having the bottom plate l5 and the two end uprights l6 and I1which join the bottom plate l5 to the upper slide plate H3. The slideplate I8 is carried in a groove or slideway formed by the spacer bars I9and the overlying bars 20, both secured to the under side of the bottomflange of the trackway 5. An abutment plate 2| projects downwardly fromone end of the carriage 1, being secured to the upright l6 and isadapted to contact with and abut the end of the length of stock material2. An electric motor 22 is mounted upon the base plate l5 of thecarriage 1, and is connected through the chain 23 and sprocket 24 to thedrive shaft 25 of the reduction gear unit 26. The driven shaft 21 of thereduction gear unit 26 carries a pinion 28 which meshes with the gearrack 29. The gear rack 29 in turn is supported by means of the anglebars 39 located at spaced intervals along the trackway 5 and attached attheir l1pper ends to the top flange of the trackway 5.

A series of bus bars 3|, 32 and 33 are also carried upon theintermediate portion of the angle bars by means of insulating mountings34, 35 and 36 respectively. Trolley rollers 31, 38 and 39 are mountedupon the upright pole or rod 40 which is carried at its-lower end uponthe base plate I5 of the carriage 1. The trolley rollers 31, 38 and 39of course are connected by electrical wires or conduits to the electricdrive motor 22.

An electric motor brake 4|, actuated by the solenoid 42 is also mountedon the outer end of the shaft of the motor 22.

An upright 43, mounted upon the base plate l5 of the carriage 1 isattached at its upper end to the endless measuring tape 9. Anotherupright 44, similarly mounted, carries at its upper end the contact shoe45 which is yieldably mounted by means of the bar 46 telescoping in theinterior of the upright, and the compression spring 41. As will best beseen from Fig. 3, the contact shoe 45 is adapted to bridge the contactpoints 48 and 49 mounted upon an insulating block 59 secured to theupper flange of the trackway 5. Electric wires, such as indicated at 5|,connect the contact points 48 and 49 in series to a source of electricpower and to the signal l3. These contact points 48 and 49 arepreferably located at unit distances 1 foot apart. Thus, as the carriage1 travels along the trackway 5, the bridging of the contacts 48 and 49by the contact shoe 45 will intermittently cause the electric signal |3to be actuated, so that the operator, merely by counting the number ofsignal impulses, can determine the number of feet which the carriage hastravelled.

Referring to Fig. 5, the endless measuring tape 9 passes around a pulleyon the right hand or outer end of the trackway 5. The pulley 55 in turnis carried by the two bars 56 and 51 which are spring mounted in thecasings 58 and 59 respectively and against the action of the compressionsprings 68 and 6|. In this manner, a uniform tension upon the measuringtape 9 is assured.

The electric circuit of the control switch 2 and drive motor 22 isillustrated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 6, where the electrical powerpasses through the control switch l2 to the bus bars or trolley lines3|, 32 and 33, thence to the motor 22. The solenoid 42 is connected inseries with the motor 22, so that it operates to release the brake 4|when current is supplied to the motor 22, and conversely to apply thebrake 4| when the current is shut off.

In order to obtain a suflicient flexibility of speed operation of theelectric drive motor 22, I have provided an especially constructedelectric motor which is capable of inch operation as well as relativelyhigh speed operation. By the term inching I mean the ability of theoperator to momentarily throw the control switch one way or the otherand thereby obtain a very slight movement of the carriage 1, such as afraction of an inch. The high speed operation of the electric motor isdesired in order to secure a rapid travel of the carriage 1 when it wasmoved relatively large distances, such as several feet. Accordingly, anelectric motor of the low temperature operating, large current capacitytype is particularly suitable to obtain such flexibility of operatingranges. A three-phase reversing induction motor, with a 440 volt fieldcapacity and operated on a 220 volt line is cited as a specific exampleof an electric motor meeting these requirements.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a measuring device for a machine operating on material, includingcutting off, means for supporting the length of stock to be cut off, arailway mounted in spaced relation and parallel to said supportingmeans, a power actuated vehicle traversible on said railway, and anabutment plate carried by said vehicle and being suspended above saidsupporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the end ofsuch lengths of stock, means on said vehicle to stop the same precisely,and a switch on said machine to control such means; the power actuatingmeans for the vehicle being mounted on the vehicle.

2. In a measuring device for a tool, means for supporting the length ofstock to be operated upon by said tool, a railway mounted in spacedrelation and parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible onsaid railway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projectingabove said supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abutthe end of such lengths of stock,

power means carried by said vehicle for driving the latter along saidrailway and a switch electrically connected to said power means, saidswitch being lgcated at the operator's station at said tool?- 3. In ameasuring device for a tool, means for supporting the length of stock tobe operated upon by said tool, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle,drive transmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electricpower transmitting means associated with said railway and connected tosaid motor, and control means for delivering electric power to saidtransmission means, said control means being located at the operator'sstation at said tool.

4. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supporting thelength of stock to be cut off, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on said railwayand supported entirely thereby, an abutment plate carried by saidvehicle and projecting above said supporting means, said abutment platebeing adapted to abut the end of such lengths of stock, and an endlessmeasuring tape supported at one end at said cut-off machine and at theother end at the end of said railway, said vehicle being so connected tosaid tape and the markings of the latter being so arranged as toindicate at its end supported at said cut-off machine the amount of saidlengths of stock.

5. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supporting thelength of stock to be cut off, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, power means carried by said vehicle fordriving the latter along said railway, and an endless measuring tapesupported at one end at said cut-off machine and at the other end at theend of said railway, said vehicle being so connected to said tape andthe markings of the latter being so arranged as to indicate at its endsupported at said cut-off machine the amount of said lengths of stockand means to stop said vehicle an unlimited number of times and in anunlimited number of positions.

6. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supporting thelength of stock to be cut ofi, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle,drive transmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electricpower transmitting means associated with said railway and connected tosaid motor, control means for delivering electric power to saidtransmission means, said control means being located at the operator'sposition of said cut-off machine, and an endless measuring tapesupported at one end at said cut-off machine and at the other end at theend of said railway, said vehicle being so @QQYCH fiOOm connected tosaid tape and the markings of the latter being so arranged as toindicate at its end supported at said cut-off machine the amount of saidlengths of stock.

7. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supporting thelength of stock to be cut on, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway. an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, power means carried by said vehicle fordriving the latter along said railway, an endless measuring tapesupported at one end at said cut-off machine and at the other end at theend of said railway, said vehicle being so connected to said tape andthe markings of the latter being so arranged as to indicate at its endsupported at said cut-off machine the amount of said lengths of stock,and intermittent signal means actuated by movement of said vehicle soconstructed as to visibly or audibly signal unit distances of travel ofsaid vehicle.

8. In a measuring device for a. cut-off machine, means for supportingthe length of stock to be cut oif, a railway mounted in spaced relationand parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle,drive transmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electricpower transmitting means associated with said railway and connected tosaid motor, control means for delivering electric power to saidtransmission means, said control means being located at the operator'sposition of said cut-oft machine, an endless measuring tape supported atone end at said cut-off machine and at the other end at the end of saidrailway, said vehicle being so connected to said tape and the markingsof the latter being so arranged as to indicate at its end supported atsaid cut-01f machine the amount of said lengths of stock, andintermittent signal means actuated by movement of said vehicle soconstructed, as to visibly or audibly signal unit distances of travel ofsaid vehicle.

9. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supporting thelength of stock to be cut off, a railway mounted in spaced relation andparallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, power means carried by said vehicle fordriving the latter along said railway, an endless measuring tapesupported at one end at said cut-off machine and at the other end at theend of said railway, said vehicle being so connected to said tape andthe markings of the latter being so arranged as to indicate at its endsupported at said cut-off machine the amount of said lengths of stock,an electric signal located at said cutoff machine, a, series of electricswitches mounted at unit distances along said railway, an electriccircuit connecting said switches to said signal, and contact meanscarried by said vehicle for actuating said switches.

10. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supportingthe length of stock to be cut oil, a railway mounted in spaced relationand parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate beingadapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, a low temperature operating, relatively largecurrent capacity electric motor mounted on said vehicle, drivetransmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electric powertransmitting means associated with said railway and connected to saidmotor, and control means for delivering electric power to saidtransmission means, said control means being located at the operatorsstation at said cut-off machine.

11. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supportingthe length of stock to be cut ofi, a railway mounted in spaced relationand parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, a low temperature operating, relatively largecurrent capacity electric motor mounted on said vehicle, drivetransmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electric powertransmitting means associated with said railway and connected to saidmotor, control means for delivering electric power to said transmissionmeans, said control means being located at the operators position ofsaid cut-off machine, and an endless measuring tape supported at one endat said cut-off machine and at the other end at the end of said railway,said vehicle being so connected to said tape and the markings of thelatter being so arranged as to indicate at its end supported at saidcut-ofi machine the amount of said lengths of stock.

12. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supportingthe length of stock to be out 01f, a railway mounted in spaced relationand parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle,drive transmitting means connecting said motor to said railway, electricpower transmitting means associated with said railway and connected tosaid motor, control means for delivering electric power to saidtransmission means, said control means being located at the operatorsposition of said cut-off machine, an endless measuring tape supported atone end at said cut-ofl machine and at the other end at the end of saidrailway, said vehicle being so connected to said tape and the markingsof the latter being so arranged as to indicate at its end supported atsaid cut-off machine the amount of said lengths of stock, an electricsignal located at said cut-oil machine, a series of electric switchesmounted at unit distances along said railway, an electric circuitconnecting said switches to said signal, and contact means carried bysaid vehicle for actuating said switches.

13. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, means for supportingthe length of stock to be cut oil, a railway mounted in spaced relationand parallel to said supporting means, a vehicle traversible on saidrailway, an abutment plate carried by said vehicle and projecting abovesaid supporting means, said abutment plate being adapted to abut the endof such lengths of stock, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle, agear rack carried by said railway, a gear driven by said motor andengaging with said rack, an electric trolley line also carried by saidrailway and connected to said motor, a control switch for said trolleyline located at the operators position of said cut-off machine, anendless measuring tape supported at one end at said cut-off ma chine andat the other end at the end of said railway, said vehicle being soconnected to said tape and the markings of the latter being so arrangedas to indicate at its end supported at said cut-ofi machine the amountof said lengths of stock, an electric signal located at said cut-offmachine, a series of electric switches mounted at unit distances alongsaid railway, an electric circuit connecting said switches to saidsignal, and contact means carried by said vehicle for actuating saidswitches.

14. A measuring device for a cut-off machine comprising an abutmentplate, a vehicle, a motor and a brake, said plate, brake and motor beingcarried by said vehicle, there being means present, at the operatorsposition of said cut-oil machine, to energize said motor and to applysaid brake, respectively.

15. A measuring device for a cut-ofi machine comprising an abutmentplate, a vehicle, a motor and a brake, said plate, brake and motor beingcarried by said vehicle, there being means present, at the operatorsposition of said cut-oiI machine, to energize said motor and to applysaid brake, respectively, and means on said vehicle whereby said brakeis applied when said motor is de-energized.

16. In a measuring device for a cut-off machine, a movable abutmentplate, means to move said plate at high speeds, means to move said plateat low speeds, and means to stop said plate positively and accuratelywhere desired, said last named means being totally mechanical inoperation and all of said means moving with said abutment plate.

NORMAN H. BOLZ.

